ASA case 'dragging on'

By Ramatsiyi Moholoa -
04 March 2010 - 02:00

SUSPENDED Athletics South Africa deputy president Kakata Maponyane has dared the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) to charge their board as per the ruling of the legal and arbitration commission.

SUSPENDED Athletics South Africa deputy president Kakata Maponyane has dared the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) to charge their board as per the ruling of the legal and arbitration commission.

Sascoc suspended the ASA board led by Leonard Chuene in November after the commission found they had bungled in their handling of the Caster Semenya gender verification tests.

Maponyane has since written a letter to Sascoc president Gideon Sam, saying their suspension was dragging on for too long without any charge sheet.

"I said to Gideon in a letter that I need the charge sheet and the reports that our suspension is based on by Sascoc's legal and arbitration commission," Maponyane said yesterday. "Sascoc cannot link the issue of Caster Semenya's tests and the ASA financial matters. "I have nothing to do with the financial matters so I cannot understand Sascoc's argument that they are waiting for the auditors to complete investigations.

"We were suspended based on the manner in which we handled the Caster Semenya matter and (it had) nothing to do with financial matters.

'These are two separate matters.

"I have heard that Advocate (Michael) Collins will be the one handling our matter. Sascoc must get an independent disciplinary committee and not their people. We need people who will be fair. People must respect our integrity."

Sam said: "I'm not involved with the legal matters. A legal process is under way. I know it's frustrating to all of them."

l Former ASA chief executive Banele Sindani said he was not given a car by the association, but paid for it.